Staying up to date

Hey...

It has been awhile!  I have been so busy since September with work mostly.  It is always my busiest time of year with the exception of Easter!  Starting next week, I will be posting once per week with a project or the plans for my Fairy Tree....Hope to see you all here!

Checking In!

Hello all!  I am not posting a project today.  I have been way too busy with my other life (gasp! you have another life?) and getting ready to go to Disneyland on Monday the 24th. I am holding off of new projects but be assured that I am always crafting.  With Halloween around the corner, I have been working on my own projects for my home.  I have a weird thing that says, in my mind, that I cannot put out anything until October 1.  Having said that, we get home from Disneyland on the 29th and then my husband heads off for a conference on the 30th and I lose my schlepper (sic).  He needs to get the buckets out of the shed for me.  He loves to decorate the front yard and I do the inside.  We have precious little time to make anything else and wait until you see what he made for the front yard!!!! I promise to share.... until then, have a great week and look for something new in October!

Disney Inspired Teachers Gifts

Bonus Post!

Even if you are NOT a crafter, this is a super easy, fast and will wow your giftee!


Here is what you need:

4X6 Self Standing Acrylic Frame
1 Pad 3X 3 Post it
Fun Paper and Stickers (I love the packets that come with paper, stickers, tags, etc.)
2 sided tape
Glue dots
Cutter

Cut paper to fit in the frame.  Slide in.  Put 2 sided tape on the back of the post it pad and stick to the frame.  Add Embellisments.  Done!

Other Options!

These are being given to my teachers...

Mickey Mouse Halloween Wreath

Hope the dawning of September finds everyone well.  We are headed into our areas busiest time.  Balloon Races, Air Races, Motorcycle Festivals, Candy Dance, Camel Races...All this month. 

This is my first offering with a Disney theme.  Just a few pictures and some easy instructions.

One of the first things that you need to keep in mind:  if you are making anything with the classic Mickey icon,  there is a formula.  The face is the largest circle.  The ears must be 2/3 the size of the face.  My sample will look a little large but I did it to show more detail.  Have fun and I CANNOT wait for Halloween to get here...

Halloween Wreath
You will need:
3 foam circles- 1 larger than the other 2
Wire
Fabric of your choice
Netting
Tulle
Ribbon 
Straight Pins
Embellishments (berries, twigs, ribbon)

Start by wrapping the circles with the fabric of your choice.  I use pinking shears to cut it so that I don't worry too much about unravelling.  Secure with pins.   To attach the ears to the face, wrap some wire to hold them together then wrap more fabric between the 2, covering the wire and pin.  Repeat with the other ear.

Next, cut strips of netting and tulle in whatever color you would like.  I don't have a measurement for this because it depends on how fluffy and full you want your wreath.  I cut strips that were about 6"X 1".  Mostly I just cut an edge that had been folded at the fabric store.  To make sure that the edges were not showing, I folded them in to the center and twisted to make a small bow.  I attached them to the circle with the pins- I also only put them on the large circle but you could certainly do the whole thing!

Making a hanger out of the ribbon (any type you like- it helps if it is green to look like a stem) and adding a bow that I attached with the pins,  the only thing left was to glue the embellishments on.  I just added tiny berries.  Hello Mickey!

Heading to Disneyland and the end of the month for a quick anniversary trip!  Maybe some new ideas will come out of it!!!!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend 2012!

Just a note...I will be laboring on Labor Day this year.  I am working on lots of fun new things to add to the blog.  As I have said before (I think) I reorganized my craft room and now (with a few exceptions- funeral of a dear friend's father and a sick dog) I have spend every night in here for the past 3 weeks.    My mantra this month???? Halloween is coming, Halloween is coming, Halloween is coming, Hall...oh look!  Glitter...oween is coming....

More Disneyish Hoodies

Daisy  

Tinkerbell 

The Original Inspiration...Minnie!

Halloween Altered Books

As promised, here is my versions of altered books!

You will need the following ingredients:
An old book- Any size will do but I kept mine on the small to medium size
Matte finish decoupage medium
Green paper napkins
Cover embellishments (for the Poisonous Plants I used leaves)
Heavy Cardboard
Printed Label for Title
Punch
Paints
Hot Glue Gun
Brushes, low tack tape

Brush the front page with decoupage medium and glue to the cover.  Do the same for the back page.  Close the book and cover the pages with decoupage medium (you can add a bit of colored paint or ink to add some aging to the pages).  Tape the book down with low tack tape and wait until it is dried completely.  (On the second book, I put pieces of silk leaves between the pages before I sealed it.)

 

While the book is drying, cut out a bookplate out of heavy cardboard for the title.  Use a ticket punch to cut out the corners. Add accents with hot glue (like nails or a border).  Paint the book plate.   At this time, print out your title.  You can use a side title and a front, or just a front. Most cardstocks will go through your printer but check first.  I used a natural colored paper but you could also "tea stain" your paper with a wet tea bag brushed on white card stock and left to dry.  Insert in your printer and print your title.

Add your embellishments with the hot glue gun.  I added lines on the spine on the first book but the second left    them off.  Hot glue the book plate on.

Next comes the messy part.  Tear up the napkin (or tissue paper) into medium pieces and decoupage all over the book, covering everything except the bookplate.  Use a small paintbrush to get into the little crevices and pay attention to the edges.  Don't spare the decoupage medium.  Allow to dry.  Attach title.  As an added element, you can "antique" the book by mixing a few drops of dark brown paint with water, brushing it over the book and wiping most of it off.  The paint will go into the crevices and accent the wrinkles.

Here are the examples I have done so far.  I am working on a Disney themed one but haven't quite figured it out.  Of course, this will be the first place that gets notified when I do!

There are so many different designs that you can do!  Have fun...